Human Rights &/or Civil Rights Law Forum

[lesalexander]

Hey everyone! I really need advice from people familiar with these two fields. I will attend Berkeley Law this fall and am really interested in these areas, but I don't know how competitive/available these jobs are. Money is not a big issue for me. I would like a higher up job. I'm idealistic and would love to work for big known organizations like the ACLU or Human Rights Watch (and etc.) Do people get these types of jobs out of law school or work towards it? Do people work big law at a known firm then go big in human rights/civil rights?

Sorry to kill y'all with questions! Feel free to answer any or all questions.

[Loney M. Setnick]

I'm a 0L interested in the same as you, and as far as I know, it's possible to go straight into these jobs upon graduation. However, it's extremely competitive, even for people in the T10. Also, from what I've researched/heard, transitioning from big law --> public interest (of any kind) or vice versa is very very hard. I was told that if I wanted to pursue a career in HR/civil rights, pursuing it immediately upon graduation was better than trying to pay off some of my debt by working at a firm first.

[pancakes3]

what's the appeal of human rights/civil rights?

[Loney M. Setnick]

what's the appeal of human rights/civil rights?

lol, is that a serious question?

[pancakes3]

what's the appeal of human rights/civil rights?

lol, is that a serious question?

yeah, it is.

[A. Nony Mouse]

what's the appeal of human rights/civil rights?

What's the appeal of anything lawyers do? Why does it matter?

[pancakes3]

what's the appeal of human rights/civil rights?

What's the appeal of anything lawyers do? Why does it matter?

@ Nony the mod: genuinely curious
@ Nony the poster: fuck off

[A. Nony Mouse]

as Nony the poster: wtf, dude, it just sounded like you couldn't imagine why someone would want to do human rights/civil rights law, which seems myopic even for this site.

[pancakes3]

Well in my myopic estimation, I figured knowing what the appeal was would "matter" because "human rights" is both a broad and narrow field of practice in that it's a wide collection of very specific issues. Knowing what aspect of "human rights" would probably help them get answers. International? Prison reform? Immigration reform? Race/Sex/Age discrimination? 1st amendment issues?

"Human/Civil rights" was kind of a non-answer and I thought it merited further questioning, but I'm glad we have you around Mama Bear.

[tlsalltheway]

It's possible. I graduated in 2015 from a UC law school with an exceptional background in civil rights and litigation during and before law school. Right before I took the bar exam, the ACLU invited me to interview for a staff attorney position in Northern California. Unfortunately for me, I had already accepted a job that I had worked really hard to get, so I declined the invitation. So, it is possible. But I wouldn't not worry about this, at all. If do well in law school and get as much practical experience as possible, and your resume shows a passion for civil rights, you will likely do a one or two year fellowship at a nonprofit or government entity, after which you will be well positioned for a permanent position at bigger organizations like the ACLU. I'm happy to discuss by PM if you'd like.

[A. Nony Mouse]

Well in my myopic estimation, I figured knowing what the appeal was would "matter" because "human rights" is both a broad and narrow field of practice in that it's a wide collection of very specific issues. Knowing what aspect of "human rights" would probably help them get answers. International? Prison reform? Immigration reform? Race/Sex/Age discrimination? 1st amendment issues?

"Human/Civil rights" was kind of a non-answer and I thought it merited further questioning, but I'm glad we have you around Mama Bear.

Well, that makes perfect sense. The OP is doubtless smarter than I am, but I think "what kind of human/civil rights" would have got that across more clearly to the average bear, is all.